Rolling Stone Jones joins Hope College jazz students

Rolling Stones bassist Darryl Jones joined the Hope College Jazz Arts Collective, directed by Prof. Robert Shipley, in a tribute to Duke Ellington this evening at the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts.

Banding Together

Tonight, I witnessed GRAMMY-Award-winning jazz drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y perform at Hope College's Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts.

The Sounds of Soul

I grooved to the sounds of soul/R&B/funk band The Soul Syndicate at the Park Theatre tonight.

Dancing with Duke

This evening, I watched the Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra provide The Nutcracker Suite soundtrack -- as arranged by Duke Ellington -- for H2 Dance Company's performance at the Knickerbocker Theatre.

The VOICE returns to the stage

I experienced The VOICE's rock and roll reunion at the Park Theatre tonight.

Harpsichord and Hope

This evening, I witnessed the Parisian baroque chamber ensemble Le Consort at Hope College's Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts.

Jaunty Jigs

I enjoyed Ten Penny Bit's jaunty Irish folk music this afternoon at Root Cafe.

Keep That Funk Alive

Last night, I got my groove on with funk band The Motet at Park Theatre.  Multi-instrumentalist Keller Williams served as the opener.

Michigan Rock Royalty

I saw The Verve Pipe's sold-out show at the Park Theatre last night.

Parktober Fest '24, Night 1

On Friday night, I attended the first of three nights of the annual fundraiser for Park Theatre, Parktober Fest.  I witnessed American Idol Season 3 Golden Ticket Winner Nathan Walton (of Nathan Walton and the Remedy, pictured above), bluegrass frontman Daniel Staggs (of Daniel Staggs and the Critters), and six-piece band Dawn Birds.  I left before having the opportunity to see Roosevelt Diggs or The Soul Syndicate.

Party on the Patio

Brad, of the party band Vinylicious, played to a packed patio at Crane's Pie Pantry, Restaurant & Winery yesterday.

World Music Smorgasbord

I greatly enjoyed the main stage performers at the International Festival of Holland today.  The lineup included Klezmer-rock band Mostly Kosher (pictured above), Middle Eastern artist Firas Zreik, Caribbean-flavored band Universal Xpression, and Grammy-Award-winning Mexican family band Villalobos Brothers.

German Gypsy Jazz Guitar Genius

Tonight, I had the pleasure of witnessing the gypsy jazz genius of German guitarist Joscho Stephan (second from the left), along with Third Coast Swing Band, at the Park Theatre.

Rockin' It Two-Step Style

I just saw the terrific rockabilly two piece Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish at the Tulip City Walls Mural Festival.

Summertime Sonics

The Charlie Millard Band provided one of the best shows of the summer tonight at the City (of Fennville) Music Hall Series.

Dec. 4, 1956 at Sun Record Studios

Tonight, I saw the musical Million Dollar Quartet -- featuring the songs and stories of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Sun Records -- at Saugatuck Center for the Arts.

Saxophone Serenade

Saxophonist/vocalist Michael Hulett serenaded patio patrons this afternoon at Crane's Pie Pantry, Restaurant and Winery.

Top Notch Latin Jazz in Full Effect

Tonight, I saw the best show of the season, Latin jazz band Lunar Octet at the City (of Fennville) Music Hall Series.

Belting the Blues

Singer/songwriter Megan Dooley belted out her beautiful blues at the Park Theatre last night.  She also played the ukulele and kazoo, and whistled, as she is a professional whistler.

Waterfront Wrap-Up

I enjoyed Nautic Bound's beach-party-dance-band vibes at Kollen Park tonight. The three piece was the final band of this year's summer concert series.

Playing the Patio, Part 2

Geoff Stockton played his beautiful guitar on the patio again yesterday afternoon at Crane's Pie Pantry, Restaurant & Winery.

From Brazil with Love

I loved seeing Brazilian band Choro das 3 perform last night at Kollen Park, backed by the Holland Symphony Orchestra.  Comprised of three sisters, the trio began as an instrumental group but has since incorporated lyrics into their compositions, as well.

Lakeshore Big Band plays lakeside

Lakeshore Big Band brought their 17-piece big band sound to Kollen Park last night.

Mike Mains & The Branches rock independently

I witnessed indie rock band Mike Mains & The Branches, as well as openers The American Hotel System and Stay Outside, at the Park Theatre last night.

Playing the Patio

Geoff Stockton played his beautiful guitar on the patio this afternoon at Crane's Pie Pantry, Restaurant & Winery.

Croonin' at Crane's

This afternoon, Randy Heidema crooned at Crane's Pie Pantry, Restaurant & Winery.

Bringing the Blues

The Kelly Quinn Blues Experience brought the blues to Kollen Park tonight.

Truly Dooley

Megan Dooley showed off her musical chops this afternoon at Crane's Pie Pantry, Restaurant & Winery.

Latin Moves and Grooves

Latin band MexiCuba entertained us at Kollen Park tonight.

Blues at Boatwerks

Tonight, I enjoyed the blues stylings of Lew Russ on the Boatwerks Waterfront patio.

Pickin' on the Patio

Ben Erhart entertained patrons on the patio at Crane's Pie Pantry, Restaurant & Winery this afternoon.

Lighting Matches covers hot hits

Tonight, I saw Grand Rapids-based alternative rock band Lighting Matches at Kollen Park.

Stealin' the Show

I enjoyed the nine-piece steelpan band Steel Doin' It tonight in GDK Park.  Based out of Spring Lake, SDI is the oldest pan band in West Michigan, having formed in 2001.

Playing on the Pie Pantry's Patio

The Barton Duo played a variety of genres at Crane's Pie Pantry Restaurant & Winery this afternoon on the patio.

Good Vibes at Holland PRIDE

I enjoyed great sets by funk/rock band Sunday Scaries, pop/rock singer/songwriter Josh Webb, and sibling duo The Sound Still (above) at the Holland PRIDE Festival today.

Serita serves up soul

Before the rain returned, I watched Serita’s Black Rose serve up their funk/rock/blues/neo-soul flavor at Kollen Park tonight.

Rockin' with the Roses

Last night, I rocked out to Chicago-based alternative/indie cover band The Red Roses at Kollen Park.

Bringing Broadway to the Boatshed

I enjoyed the Holland Symphony Orchestra's "Back to Broadway" concert last night at Eldean Shipyard, featuring Broadway-pedigreed guest vocalists Lisa Vroman and Doug LaBrecque (below), as well as opening act the Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra.

Professional-drummer-turned-professor talks shop

This evening, I witnessed professional-drummer-turned-professor Robert Shipley play and give a Juneteenth music history talk entitled "Music: The Universal Language/My Truth: Music and Drums." Shipley, who toured with Natalie Cole, Diana Ross, and Chaka Khan among others, is currently the director of jazz studies at Hope College.

Americana trio rocks Summer Concert Series kickoff

Tonight, Holland's Summer Concert Series kicked off, featuring the Grace Theisen Band at Kollen Park.

Healing with Harmony

I saw a number of musicians downtown tonight at the first installation of this summer's Gentex Street Performer Series, including the Doctors of Jazz.

PRIDE at the Park

I enjoyed electronic singer/songwriter flair from Elare Andre (above) and alternative pop flavor from Lipstick Jodi (below) last night at this year's Holland PRIDE Party, hosted at the Park Theatre.

'Grass and Sass at the Park

Last night, I witnessed Kristy Cox and her bluegrass band, Grasstime, at the Park Theatre, along with opener Full Cord Duo, of Full Cord band.

Ay, caramba!

I experienced the idyllic talent of vocalist Yoli Mayor of America's Got Talent and American Idol fame last night at Go Girl Saugatuck.

Visionary violinist encourages the 'weird' in people

I enjoyed Dixon's Violin's visionary performance tonight at the Park Theatre.

Winslow-King serves up blues, folk and rock

Last night, I witnessed the Luke Winslow-King Band's bluesy roots rock at the Park Theatre, as well as a favorite regional rockabilly duo, Jesse Ray & the Carolina Catfish, who opened the show with a killer set.

BB @ BLB

I enjoyed Bri Baron's singer/songwriter sets at Big Lake Brewing tonight.

My First Ska Concert in Over 20 Years

I experienced the punky ska sounds of Mustard Plug at the Park Theatre last night, as well as opening acts Caliko and Dance Contraption.